as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in killing
to deprive of life
millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slaying
Jessica Sager, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The man charged in the string of slayings known as the Gilgo Beach murders appeared in court Wednesday as his defense team seeks to get critical DNA evidence excluded from trial and break up the case against him.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Serial killer kept 'trinkets' from gruesome slayings that could offer evidence trove.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Manson and his followers were eventually arrested and charged in the savage slayings in December 1969.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Noun
Three years later, Kitty's slaying and its aftermath inspired the creation of the 911 emergency calling system, according to PBS' Independent Lens.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The man charged in the string of slayings known as the Gilgo Beach murders appeared in court Wednesday as his defense team seeks to get critical DNA evidence excluded from trial and break up the case against him.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Serial killer kept 'trinkets' from gruesome slayings that could offer evidence trove.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Manson and his followers were eventually arrested and charged in the savage slayings in December 1969.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
Noun
-
They were taken down after the racial justice protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
In February, the country recorded 47 murders, its lowest monthly homicide tally in 25 years, according to the government.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women as well as attempting to murder seven others.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
Arizona Republic,
2 Jan. 2025
-
The timing was awkward — as Bashar and his gang were murdering unarmed protesters en masse.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
That can include multiple homicides or cases in which the victim is a law enforcement officer or witness to a crime.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Bukele said El Salvador had 1.9 homicides per 100,000 people, which puts the country below what any Latin American country had reported in 2023, according to the AP.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
-
At this point, most of the surveys are showing roughly seventy per cent of Israelis would prefer a hostage deal to whatever the alternative is, like destroying Hamas by any means.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
2 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The attack sparked outrage on social media, with politicians from the north condemning the killings.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The Homicide Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Police made one arrest after executing a search warrant at a Connecticut smoke shop suspected of selling marijuana without a license.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
23 Dec. 2024
-
He has been involved in executing the recommendations of the Interpath findings.—
Adam Crafton,
The Athletic,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share